Meet the Woman Protecting Animals and Diversity With One Organization: #NowWhat

Aryenish Birdie created Encompass to better the animal protection movement. Meet the woman behind the organization Encompass that aims to build an inclusive animal protection movement. Why Encompass is vital Aryenish Birdie, founder and executive director at Encompass , started the organization because she’s observed that the animal protection movement lacks diversity . So, the group, which advocates for animal well-being, specifically works to include people of color in the animal welfare movement. People of color make up 38 percent of the U.S. population, Birdie says. But POC make up less than 11 percent of staff and 8 percent of leaders at the top 20 U.S. farmed animal protection organizations. “This has led our movement to earn the label of a ‘white movement’ — one that many people of color find difficult to join,” she adds. “This problem will only intensify, as the U....